Who Should I Start? Roschon Johnson or Riley Nowakowski


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
1.6 6.6 0.1 0.2 1.1 0.0

Roschon Johnson News

Roschon Johnson Again Leads Bears' Backfield

Saturday, August 22, 11:57 PM

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson picked up 42 yards on 12 carries in his team's 27-9 loss to the hosting Cincinnati Bengals. He also gained a yard on his sole target. Johnson carried the load again, leading Chicago's backfield in rush attempts for the second consecutive outing. With backfield mate Kyle Monangai (knee) shelved for a few weeks and D'Andre Swift failing to suit up with the rest of the starters, it was Johnson in with the first-string and for most of the first half. While the University of Texas alum doesn't figure to be an impactful fantasy asset in 2026, it appears the Bears' RB3 job is his to lose for the time being. As it stands, that could spell a decent amount of work for Johnson to begin the campaign. That is, if Monangai hasn't fully recovered from a hyperextended knee by the time Week 1 rolls around. Chicago will hit the road again for their preseason finale, squaring off with the Tennessee Titans next Saturday.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
1.2 0.0 0.0 0.6 5.3 0.0

Riley Nowakowski News

Steelers Select Riley Nowakowski at No. 169 Overall

Saturday, April 25, 11:23 AM

The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Indiana tight end prospect Riley Nowakowski with the 169th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Nowakowski caught 32 passes for 387 yards and two receiving touchdowns in the Hoosiers' national championship-winning offense last year. He also got involved as a fullback, scoring two rushing touchdowns. We could see him take on a similar hybrid fullback/tight end role in Pittsburgh, serving as the team's replacement for Connor Heyward, who signed with the Raiders this offseason. Assuming that's the case, Nowakowski doesn't have a clear path to fantasy relevance. He can be avoided in most fantasy football drafts.


Roschon Johnson vs. Riley Nowakowski

Still trying to decide between Johnson and Nowakowski? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Roschon Johnson is projected to score 1.6 points this week while Riley Nowakowski is projected to score 1.2 points.